Inspiration struck triathlon competitor Dan Malloy of Union City four years ago seemingly out of nowhere, while he was relaxing in paradise.
“I was on a trip in St. Martin,” said the 60-year-old Malloy last week. “I had the beautiful Caribbean sitting in front of me. I said to my wife, ‘I am going to start swimming.’ So I started swimming and I felt better. I immediately after would go running after [a swim].”
Once Malloy arrived home from his vacation he bought a bike and entered his first triathlon in Long Branch, N.J.
The water was 52 degrees. His first exposure to the cold water wasn’t difficult since he had been a wind surfer in the past, which required him to surf in different temperatures.
“I started swimming and I felt better.” – Dan Molloy
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After four years of participating in races and triathlons, Malloy plans to go to the most important one yet: The Triathlon World Championship in China on Sept. 10.
In order to qualify, he had to place in the top 10 percent in his age bracket in a previous triathlon in Alabama. He came in 11th place.
A triathlon usually includes a sprint, a swim, and a bike ride, all of varying distances.
Building blocks
Malloy said he has received coaching from experienced athletes.
“You surround yourself with people that know a lot more than you do. You don’t know what you don’t know, so you surround yourself around coaches,” he said.
Laurie Hug, a triathlon competitor, assists Malloy with his daily workouts by sending weekly workout sheets listing his tasks. Tony Ruiz, an alternate for the 1980 Olympic Team, helps Malloy with running technique.
“I ride [my bike] regularly to Nyack, N.Y. and back, which is 60 miles round trip,” Malloy said. “The longest event I have done is half-iron man which was three hours on a bike.”
Molloy credits pilates for helping him gain needed strength for the demanding sport. Pilates is a conditioning exercise that helps develop strength, flexibility, and endurance. Malloy originally weighed 190 lbs., but through training has gone down to 150 lbs.
Molloy trains near River Road in Weehawken, sometimes cycling up to the George Washington Bridge for hill resistance training.
He also swims daily with the Hoboken Masters’ Swimming Club.
Malloy has been a recreational runner for 25 years. Michael Trunks, a world class runner, taught Malloy about triathlons and to this day gives him training advice.
Molloy says his healthy diet keeps him properly fueled for training and competition.
“My wife is a fantastic cook,” he said. “We eat more organic and leaner foods, less junk food, but I just really watch what I put in my mouth.”
Malloy formulated a way to have organic steel-cut oats prepared for him to eat in the morning, a preparation from scratch that requires many hours of boiling. He plans to one day market it as Dan Oats, the “so good, so tasty, so nutritious meal.”
The next level
Malloy has competed at the U.S. National Championship in Tuscaloosa, Ala. for the past three years and has achieved good results, placing him a higher bracket each year. That’s how he ended up qualifying for China.
Before coming in 11th place in his age group this year, he had placed 36 two years ago, and 25th last year.
Santo Sanabria may be reached at SSanabria@hudsonreporter.com.